Although your managerial staff typically fills these roles, some employees — particularly newer workers — might be intimidated by the thought of approaching a senior-level manager.
This gives them another channel for asking questions and voicing their opinion.
4-Provide IT training and education
It’s easy to see how some workers feel threatened by the rise of workplace automation. Those who aren’t tech-savvy in the first place likely don’t understand the full scope of what’s happening, and they’re bound to react negatively.
To avoid this, make sure your entire staff is educated and, whenever necessary, trained in the type of cobots and software systems you use.
Not only will this help them maintain their productivity in the future, but it also ensures they’re working with your cobots safely and efficiently.
5- Use cobots to complement jobs instead of replacing them
Instead of eliminating or replacing a human worker, many cobots help boost productivity. The Associated Press uses AI-powered robots to produce boilerplate content — which frees up real journalists to cover the actual news stories they provide.
CaliBurger, a popular fast food chain, uses robots to flip burgers. Humans step in to prepare orders as necessary.
There are many uses for robots and cobots in industrial settings, including warehouses and factories, but they aren’t limited to these environments. Feel free to think outside the box, and you might come up with the next big idea in collaborative robot innovation.
6- Promote a strong workplace culture
Don’t forget about your workplace culture. It’s easy to let it slide — especially when you’re integrating robotics into the workforce — but it does a lot for strengthening employee morale and driving productivity.
A strong workplace culture also lets you introduce cobots in a nonthreatening manner. Instead of worrying about losing their jobs, your employees can focus on learning these new systems and working with them instead of against them.
Embracing the trend of cobots in the workplace
Introducing cobots to the workplace is never an easy task. It becomes even more complicated when they’re used outside of a factory or warehouse setting — as is the case with many next-gen cobots.
It’s easy to see this expansion as a negative trend, especially if you don’t properly understand the technology or the usefulness of a combined human-robotic workplace, but robots are here to stay.
Business owners who want to remain competitive may have no other choice but to embrace robotics in the workplace — regardless of what that place may be.